The league and cup title hopes of the Naples-based club next season is hinged on the performance of the Super Eagles striker, and Neapolitans can’t stop talking about him
Two Napoli icons Francesco Montervino and Gennaro Iezzo, agree that Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen is an excellent striker who can bear the goalscoring burden for the Luciano Spalletti-led team.
Napoli acquired Osimhen for a club-record transfer fee last year from Lille but only saw flashes of his brilliance after injuries, and coronavirus-related issues limited his contribution.
The 22-year-old still scored ten goals as I Partenopei finished fifth in Serie A behind champions Inter Milan, AC Milan, Atalanta, and Juventus.
But Osimhen has acquainted himself well with coach Spalletti’s philosophy, netting seven goals in four pre-season games, including an impressive brace in the 3-0 defeat of Bayern Munich.
Former Napoli captain Montervino has praised the ex-Lille lad’s physical attributes, his passion on the pitch, and his eye for goal.
“Osimhen is the centre forward and is the attacking point of Napoli,” the former Taranto sporting director told Radio Kiss Kiss, as per Area Napoli.
“He tasks himself to score, to attack the depth, give the depth and stay in the area. Surely the extra mezzala (midfielder) can change something, but I saw an Osimhen who wants to score; as soon as he sees the space, he kicks towards the goal, more vertically.”
Gennaro Iezzo, another former Napoli ace, agrees with Montervino that Osimhen is a ‘devastating player’ who can lift the Gli Azzurri to success this term.
But the former manager of Serie D club Sant’Antonio Abate has warned that the best of Osimhen may not be seen in the early stages of the season as the Napoli players continue to internalise Spalletti’s methods. He also advised Osimhen to learn to attack more depth to become an all-round attacker.
“Victor Osimhen? With the workloads you do at this time of year, it is difficult to see physical and mental brilliance,” Iezzo said, as per Radio Kiss Kiss via Area Napoli.
“It takes time; you have to metabolise what you are doing between athleticism and ideas, mechanisms of the coach, and to do so, you have to play and understand well.
“In the open field, he is a devastating player; to become a great all-rounder, he has to learn to attack more depth.”
Osimhen is expected to be in action for Napoli when they kick off their Serie A campaign with a clash against Venezia at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona next weekend.
